Useful thread to re-awaken every few years because cable lock products change regularly. Of course there is a continual war going on with bicycle lock products that one can leverage for ski use. Any of the many retractable cable lock products are of minimal value because anyone with a pair of dikes in their pocket, can cut those cables in seconds. For skis this seems to be the thing:

The key difference with these Python locks is the loop on one end of the cable can be cinched up tightly around one's pushed together skis at the bindings where they cannot be slid off because of the bindings. The 5mm steel cable cannot be quickly cut with dikes. Not a product to securely leave expensive skis overnight someplace where no one is around where a thief can bring in expensive cutters like a small portable battery operated diamond saw haha. But what we are talking about here is leaving expensive skis outside a ski lodge a short while one is inside a bit for lunch or using a restroom.

Those retractable locks are only going to keep away spur of the moment juvenile miscreant. The advantage of the small retractables is they are smaller lighter thus fit in a pocket sort of while the above product is best secured at the beginning of a ski day down at a day lodge wrapped around one of those metal ski racks. Thus a nuisance because one needs to go out of their way to secure it and then retrieve it again at the end of the day. Another negative from convenience is having to carry a key versus say knowing a combination lock code.

For the last few years have used the split the skis method because my two primary skis are several years old, painted so no one knows the model. But just bought a pair of Scott The Ski that are very much sought after and visually striking. So am going to pick up the above.